Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Expressing anger over the desecration to their Holy book Guru Granth Sahib by some miscreants at Faridkote in Punjab few days back, the Sikh community members held strong protest in Jammu, Srinagar, Nowshera and some other parts of J&K State today.
In Jammu, a large number of Sikh community members including women assembled at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Nanak Nagar in the morning and then started protest march towards Gandhi Nagar. The protest march was held under the leadership of J&K Gurdwara Parbandhak Board president Tarlochan Singh Wazir. The protesters were demanding arrest and stern action against the miscreants who showed disrespect to the `Holy Granth’. They were also reciting `Gurvani Shloks’.
The protesters were also holding placards and banners projecting their demands. After passing through Gandhi Nagar, the protest march culminated at Satwari Chowk, where several Sikh leaders addressed gathering. They urged upon the Punjab Government to take immediate action against the culprits involved in the act of desecration to Granth Sahib. They said the inquiry as ordered by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal should not be mere lip service. Besides Mr Wazir, H S Raina, Jagjit Singh, Surjeet Singh, Bhai Gurmeet Singh, Bhai Gurdev Singh, J S Mangal, Harmeet Singh and others also spoke on the occasion.
In Srinagar, members of Sikh community also staged a protest demonstration against the alleged desecration of their holy book at Faridkote in Punjab early this week.
Shouting slogans the Sikh members gathered at Press Enclave in the heart of the city but were dispersed by police after they set ablaze two effigies to denounce Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his alleged failure to bring the culprits to book.
The protest was organised by Jammu and Kashmir unit of Gurmat Taksal and the protesters dispersed peacefully after police intervention.
Accusing BJP and RSS of “hurting their religious sentiments”, Head of Gurmat Taksal Sukhbir Singh said the community would not tolerate desecration of their holy book.
“Today, the minorities are feeling unsafe in India and their religious sentiments are being hurt every now and then. BJP and RSS are directly responsible for it,” he charged, demanding stern action against the culprits behind the desecration of the holy book in Punjab.
Two persons were killed and several others injured on Wednesday when police opened fire on Sikh demonstrators protesting the alleged desecration in Punjab.
The Sikhs also staged a noisy demonstration at Hatmurrah in Anantnag district of south Kashmir against the incident.
In Nowshera town of Rajouri district, a yet another protest demonstration was held under the leadership of DGPC president Rajouri, Bhopinder Singh today. The protest march started from Gurdwara Patshahi Nowshera and passed through the main Bazaar and finally culminated at SDM office. DGPC president handed over a memorandum to Tehsildar Nowshera. The participants showed their resentment against the Faridkote incident of desecration to the Holy book and demanded action against the accused involved.
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